Rarely will royalty ever grace the presence of the scientific world; rarer still is a royal female in science. One princess of the 17th century took the necessary steps to become a natural philosopher; her name was Princess
Elisabeth of Bohemia and Palatine, also known as Elisabeth von der Pfalz. Elisabeth was most known for her correspondence with the French natural philosopher René Descartes.
Insight and Influences
Growing up in a male dominated world most women did not take the steps necessary to establish correspondence with other natural philosophers or make their mark in the scientific world. Elisabeth however did both in her own way. Although she never published any works of her own she commented and adjusted works of others such as Cocceius and other natural philosophers of her time. She also established a correspondence with René Descartes and argued with him on his theory of “mind and body dualism”. She felt that it was impossible for the mind to influence the unthinking body. This is one of the main questions of natural philosophy she poses and it was never answered.
Major Contributions
Although Elisabeth never published any works of her own, she is best known for her debate
Photo from Philip Mould
with René Descartes over his theory of “mind and body dualism”. Descartes’’ theory says that “the rational soul, an entity distinct from the body and making contact with the body at the pineal gland, might or might not become aware of the differential outflow of animal spirits brought about through the rearrangement of the interfibrillar spaces. When such awareness did occur, however, the result was conscious sensation -- body affecting mind. In turn, in voluntary action, the soul might itself initiate a differential outflow of animal spirits. Mind, in other words, could also affect body” (Source). Elisabeth however argued with him that the intellectual mind could not affect the unthinking body, just as the body could not affect the mind. Her thoughts on this made Descartes’’ theory implausible. They never came to an agreement on this subject, even though they continued their communication until Descartes’’ death in 1650. Before his death however Descartes published his portion of the correspondence of Elisabeth and his self, Elisabeth would not allow her portion to be published.
Affect and Effect
Elisabeth was the third of 13 children born to Fredrick V and Elizabeth Stuart, the first female the couple had. Her parents ruled Bohemia until she was one, when they were overthrown. They soon after lost Palatine and were exiled to Holland. Elizabeth and her siblings attended school at the Prinsenhof in Leiden where she learned many languages and sciences along with her traditional learning before reuniting with her parents in exile. Because of her fondness of languages she was nicknamed “Le Greque" by her siblings. Her eldest brother drowns in a boating accident; another brother converts to Catholicism, this deeply upset Elisabeth due to her unyielding faith in the Protestant religion. Later another of her many brothers stabs a man to death and flees to the Spanish army. Elisabeth does not approve of this; however she supports her brother in his decision. This angers the children’s mother and Elisabeth is sent to Germany to be with her aunt where she teaches her young cousin in Descartes’ work.
Elisabeth never married, it is rumored that there was more than just a philosophical correspondence with Descartes but it has not been confirmed, although there were plans for her to marry Wladyslaw IV Vasa, King of Poland, Elisabeth refused due to his Catholic Beliefs. After Descartes passed away Elisabeth became the Abbess in the Protestant Church, Herford in Westfalen. Soon before she died Elisabeth wrote to her sister Louise to bid her farewell. Elisabeth of Bohemia and Palatine died on February 11, 1680.
The Things She Left Behind
After her death in 1680 Elisabeth left behind a very small legacy. She left behind questions that are still unanswered, including the question of mind-body dualism. Elisabeth also left behind writings of free will and her letters to Descartes. Due to her royal background however she never published any of her writings and her time she could spend on natural philosophy was limited. Elisabeth’s legacy was left mostly with her correspondence with Descartes and is one of the only things she is remembered for in science.
Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia and Palatine
Rarely will royalty ever grace the presence of the scientific world; rarer still is a royal female in science. One princess of the 17th century took the necessary steps to become a natural philosopher; her name was Princess
Table of Contents
Insight and Influences
Growing up in a male dominated world most women did not take the steps necessary to establish correspondence with other natural philosophers or make their mark in the scientific world. Elisabeth however did both in her own way. Although she never published any works of her own she commented and adjusted works of others such as Cocceius and other natural philosophers of her time. She also established a correspondence with René Descartes and argued with him on his theory of “mind and body dualism”. She felt that it was impossible for the mind to influence the unthinking body. This is one of the main questions of natural philosophy she poses and it was never answered.
Major Contributions
Although Elisabeth never published any works of her own, she is best known for her debate
Affect and Effect
Elisabeth was the third of 13 children born to Fredrick V and Elizabeth Stuart, the first female the couple had. Her parents ruled Bohemia until she was one, when they were overthrown. They soon after lost Palatine and were exiled to Holland. Elizabeth and her siblings attended school at the Prinsenhof in Leiden where she learned many languages and sciences along with her traditional learning before reuniting with her parents in exile. Because of her fondness of languages she was nicknamed “Le Greque" by her siblings. Her eldest brother drowns in a boating accident; another brother converts to Catholicism, this deeply upset Elisabeth due to her unyielding faith in the Protestant religion. Later another of her many brothers stabs a man to death and flees to the Spanish army. Elisabeth does not approve of this; however she supports her brother in his decision. This angers the children’s mother and Elisabeth is sent to Germany to be with her aunt where she teaches her young cousin in Descartes’ work.
Elisabeth never married, it is rumored that there was more than just a philosophical correspondence with Descartes but it has not been confirmed, although there were plans for her to marry Wladyslaw IV Vasa, King of Poland, Elisabeth refused due to his Catholic Beliefs. After Descartes passed away Elisabeth became the Abbess in the Protestant Church, Herford in Westfalen. Soon before she died Elisabeth wrote to her sister Louise to bid her farewell. Elisabeth of Bohemia and Palatine died on February 11, 1680.
The Things She Left Behind
After her death in 1680 Elisabeth left behind a very small legacy. She left behind questions that are still unanswered, including the question of mind-body dualism. Elisabeth also left behind writings of free will and her letters to Descartes. Due to her royal background however she never published any of her writings and her time she could spend on natural philosophy was limited. Elisabeth’s legacy was left mostly with her correspondence with Descartes and is one of the only things she is remembered for in science.
References
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